Union Now by Clarence K. Streit (Session 2)

The World Citizen Book Club held its second session on Clarence K. Streit’s Union Now on October 8, 2022, featuring special guest Dr. Tiziana Stella, Executive Director of the Streit Council. Dr. Stella guided participants through Chapters 5–6, which examined the constitutional and political foundations of Streit’s proposed union.

About the Book

Union Now (1939) proposed that fifteen leading democracies form a federal union to prevent war and promote peace. Streit envisioned a union modeled on American federalism, where member nations would share sovereignty on key matters while retaining domestic autonomy. He argued that such a union would be so compelling in its power and prosperity that other nations would eventually seek membership, leading to a world federation.

About the Author

Clarence K. Streit (1896–1986) was an American journalist and foreign correspondent for The New York Times. His coverage of the League of Nations in Geneva inspired his conviction that democratic nations must unite in a federal structure to secure lasting peace. The Streit Council continues his legacy today.

Discussion Highlights

Dr. Stella brought her expertise as a historian specializing in transatlantic relations and democratic federalism to the discussion of Chapters 5–6. These chapters explored the constitutional principles that would undergird a union of democracies and the political conditions necessary for its formation. Participants engaged with Streit’s arguments about how existing democratic institutions could serve as building blocks for a federal union.